Inspirational Head Wins Top Award for Enterprise

Inspirational Head Wins Top Award for Enterprise

Article excerpt

A HEADTEACHER in Northumberland has won a top national award for fostering a spirit of enterprise among his students in a former blackspot for new business start-ups.

Nick Bowen - who has been head at St Benet Biscop High School in Bedlington for nine years - has received the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion in recognition of his 'inspiring' work.

Under his leadership the school became a specialist business and enterprise college in 2005, and has gained a national reputation for working with the local business community.

It has twice represented the North East at the finals of the National Young Enterprise competition, and Mr Bowen set up the school's own business wing - Benet Enterprises Ltd - to build on the success. A business manager has been appointed to run the company, which has its own premises in the town centre, and it has been successful in event management, business engagement, commercial products, film production and enterprise training.

School students are involved in all of the programmes and the company works to develop business ideas generated by the youngsters students.

Mr Bowen was also influential in helping the Wansbeck district secure pounds 11. …